Beam Me UP

Aerosol spray cans are virtually useless once the contents are used up. You have the option of recycling the bottle or you can get creative and repurpose the can to make a hanging light like these creative kids from Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The ZEK CREW "produces random and conceptual visual interventions".

Throw it, Pot it, Drop it, Grow it!

SEEDBOMs are the friendly bombs that grow, tools for Eco-Warriors and Guerrilla Gardeners. Handmade from a mixture of eco-friendly, locally sourced, organic and recycled materials such as used egg boxes, shredded office paper, compost and a selection of easy to grow flower varieties and native wildflower seeds.

They contain everything you need to start growing flowers practically anywhere. Use SEEDBOMs to interact with your environment, join forces with nature and brighten up dull and lifeless places in your area by throwing them into derelict land, neglected spaces, fenced off eyesores or even your neighbour’s messy garden and watch them grow!

Unfortunately, SEEDBOMs are currently only available in the UK. “Etsy is a US site but people in the UK can still order from the site and their payment will be changed into UK pounds through Paypal. I would love to sell in the US but cannot at the moment due to the fact that there are regulations in place for the exportation of seeds and it would be irresponsible of me to send UK native seeds to the US. I only hope I can move things along fast enough to be able to sell a version of seedboms in the US soon as like you say it is a popular idea and I am getting a very good response from people in the US.”
Information and Images courtesy of SEEDBOMs

Vintage Fashion Updates for 2010... A Look Into Retail

Having been in the vintage clothing slash recycled apparel industry going on 10 years now we have been able to see the fashion trends come and go. Each year we get further and further away from the classic 1950's vintage look, even further from the 1940's dapper look and closer to the grungy 1970's and 1990's look. Not the "Flower Power One Love" look, or the "Greg Brady Pant Suit" either...but raw "Rocker Style."

What am I talking about? Well think about it... each month a crafty mom or stylish boy feel that they should open up an online vintage store, and they began to attempt to source designer dresses from the 1950's or Rock Tees from the 70's. That doesn't mean that they are still not desirable, but face it, there is just not that much of it out there any more, especially to base a successful business plan on. Those of us who have been collecting and supplying recycled vintage apparel know that in most cases the Japanese kids bought up the pieces for most of the incoming fads long before hipsters in the US or UK had any idea what would be the next cool thing. It is safe to say that if it has been desired by an international market for over twenty years then it is going to be rare. It is not like you can just sit there and reproduce an actual vintage piece. Contemporary designers attempt to each season, but it not the real thing, not to mention it defeats the whole purpose behind vintage. So if you are planning on opening a vintage boutique this year and you want just the rare hard to find vintage, then keep on dreaming.

It is time to take your creative abilities and focus them on how to market a variety of recycled clothing products to a large market. And not one or two pieces to a fickle clientele. Vintage Retail Shops that understand this have been doing quite well though the global recession. All kinds of people from all walks of life wear and constantly urbanize designs from the past. Hip-hop artists like the Black Eyed Pea's and Erika Badu, to Folk artists like Jack Johnson and Donavon Frankenreiter continually add vintage recycled products to their wardrobe. How about up and coming artists like Lady Gaga Gaga and Cold War Kid's wearing vintage fashion pieces from the 1980's and 1990's. The sky is the limit. Why not let these guys do your marketing why you provide the recycled product?

Now that we are coming into a a new decade... 2010, we are twenty years from 1990, just as music recycles itself, so does fashion. Do not attempt to build a business off of hard to find rare items that will keep you looking for product instead of selling it. Remember there is plenty of other styles, outfits and pieces that are desirable and marketable just under your nose.

Shop Notes: Vintage Clothing Gift Certificates

So now you have a Vintage Clothing Retail Boutique of your very own and you are wondering why your sales seem to have gone backwards during this Holiday Shopping Season instead of moving forward. You notice that the other retailers in your area are claiming that they are selling allot more clothing and accessories than usual, yet you can't seem to understand why you are not. Sure it could do with the fact that no-one likes your store because your employees act like they are better then everyone else, if that is the case you should already know that by now. It may have to do with your lack of marketing or ability to make sure that you have a new selection of vintage clothing for your customers each week. It could have allot to do with a number of factors, but before you start changing everything up trying to figure out what is wrong, please don't forget the obvious. That is that people don't usually purchase vintage clothing as gifts. Sure we as collectors call it "Premium Recycled Vintage Apparel," but to the laymen it is still "Used Clothing"....and i hate to even say this but in most of their minds,"isn't that stuff you find in a thrift store?"

Sure they are off-base and hopefully you have trained your sales staff on how to answer such questions, however this does not mean that the consumer is going to get it and do all of their shopping with you. What you need to do is offer them incentive. Explain to them that each piece is unique and one of a kind, then give them an opportunity to purchase a Gift Certificate for their loved one. This way they don't appear "cheap" as they may call it, but instead a little cultured. The person receiving the gift certificate can redeem it for whatever they want.

You read that smart business owners offer gift certificates. You know from experience that you appreciate gift certificates. Now you're wondering how to create your own gift certificates.

No matter what your business is, even Vintage Clothing Boutiques can create their own gift certificates, with real value, and encourage your clients to buy and use them as gifts.

Suggestions on How to Create Your Own Gift Certificates

There are a number of different computer software programs that will assist you in making a gift certificate of your very own. If you know how to use a couple of different programs than you have way more options.

1. Microsoft Publisher: This program allows even a novice to create small business gift certificates. The software provides a gift certificate template to get you started. Simply start Microsoft Publisher. A "New Publications" window opens on the left. Click the top choice, "New Publications for Print" and then click "Gift certificates" in the new window. You will have a choice of 35 different small business gift certificates, ready for you to customize. Select a design you like, and click areas to type in your information. If you don't like the gift certificate color scheme or font, go to the task pane on the left and choose a new one.

2. Microsoft Word: This software, too, offers gift certificate templates. In Word, under "File" click on "new" and type "gift certificate" into the task pane on the right. These 30 templates offer all-purpose as well as specific occasion gift certificates. Select a line of text, and customize your small business gift certificates.

3. Adobe PhotoShop: This graphics program allows you to place a photo of your business or product on your small business gift certificates. In PhotoShop, under "File" click on "new" and enter the dimensions of your gift certificate. A common size is about 3.5" height by 7" width. Leave a margin of at least 0.25" on all sides. Color blocks are good, and can be added to your gift certificate easily in this program. Make it clear in writing that this is a gift certificate. Add your business name and address. Type the word "Number" with a line or box in which the number can be entered. Indicate that "This certificate entitles (space for a name) to (space for your offer)" or type the exact offer. You will also want a line that tells the recipient that the gift certificate is not redeemable for cash, and that its redemption value does not exceed a given amount. Provide authorization and expiration spaces, and print.

4. PageMaker: For clearer type, you may want to design the graphics of your small business gift certificates in a program such as Adobe PhotoShop, and then import those into PageMaker. Add the copy in PageMaker and print. You can line up 3 on a page by copy/pasting your gift certificates.

5. Giftango: This is not software, but a website where you can download and modify free small business gift certificates.

Gift Certificates for Online Businesses

You can create gift certificates for online businesses, too. Check first to see if the shopping cart service you use makes provision for gift certificates. They will be able to tell you how to create your own gift certificates for online shoppers.

Uses for Small Business Gift Certificates

Small business gift certificates are appreciated by both the gift givers and the gift recipients. They are easy to give and fun to spend.

Use small business gift certificates to introduce your business to new customers. You can potentially bring in a loyal customer or client who will be with you for years. Say thank you to loyal customers with gift certificates Add gift certificates to your regular line of merchandise.

Use small business gift certificates for private bookshops, boutiques, beauty salons, nail salons, restaurants, spas, candy stores, flower shops, etc. Use gift certificates online for any kind of business you have.

Authentic Gift Certificates, Presentation

Think about the presentation of your gift certificate and how it differ from others. We have created gift certificates for Vintage Boutiques by laying out a design in Adbe Photoshop, then cutting out a shape out of an old recycled cardboard boxes, then gluing the GC to the cut out cardboard. This gives the Vintage Gift Certificate a card stock backing which makes it look very nice. We have also used old denim jeans pockets for envelopes to put the Vintage Clothing Gift Certificate in for presentation.

Generic Gift Certificates

If you decide not to create your own gift certificates, you can purchase generic gift certificates. They will be less effective as an advertisement, but can still bring customers to your store.

Rocking Chair Powers Its Attached OLED Lamp

The Murakami chair's attached lamp is powered by kinetic energy produced from the chair's rocking back and forth—deliciously simple and elegant. Oh, and that lampshade? Not a lampshade. That's the actual OLED light source, shaped like a lampshade. The OLED lamp even senses when it's light or dark out, and if it's light, stores the energy produced by rocking in a battery pack until nightfall. The chair, designed by Rochus Jacob, rightfully shared first prize at the DesignBoom Green Life Competition, which you can read more about READ MORE

Wetsuits Made From Recycled Fish Nets

image via B9 on you tube

Recycled plastic soda bottles are now showing up in everything from toothbrushes to park benches to jackets and now they are even being molded into the 2009 Platinum B9 (b9 = pronounced "benign") wetsuit by Billabong. These suits claim to be as good for your body as they are for the environment. Check out the video from youtube.

Recycled Box Briefcase

The folks over at INHABITAT are having a contest on SPRING GREEN DESIGNS. This wonderful Mac book box/briefcase design is one of the items up on the contest block. Instead of just trashing the box after removing its contents Alison Cromi, decided to cover it with vintage materials giving it a dual purpose.This is an example of how simple recycling things can be. It doesn't have to be big invention like the solar poer tie, or wave farm. Sometimes just giving a box a new purpose can help.

Sourcing American Recycled Clothing

Over the years Dust Factory has bean the leading supplier of American recycled clothing, aka Vintage.

We cater to designers seeking inspiration, vintage boutiques and stores, remake companies, department stores in need of larger quantities, online sellers and exporters. Many of our accounts use our knowledge of the vintage industry to their advantage. By using us as a bulk supplier, they can better idea of what’s selling around the world, and how to price, merchandise and better push their vintage finds. It’s the combination of great clothes and knowledge that make store successful.

Dust Factory is unique in that we have the ability and knowledge to prepare orders for you. Family owned and operated we are an environmentally conscious fashion forward experienced and tested used clothing wholesaler with no appointments necessary come on by and check us out !

Tubeway Armies Arm Warmers

With winter moving in across most of the US and Europe, it is time to consider fashionable clothing and insulation options. We found these cute hand/arm warmers at alternativeconsumer.com that are worth mentioning. These arm warmers are eco-fashioned from an upcycled, 100% wool sweater and adorned with vintage, eye-catching, Bakelite buckles. Created by designer, gayeabandon.

$26 @ etsy.com


Source Courtesy of alternativeconsumer.com
Image Courtesy of gayeabandon

Reconstructed Men's Western Shirt

Particle Re-constructs an over-sized mens cowboy shirt to a nice fitted ladies top.

The Savanah can either be worn as a mini dress or with jeans or leggings. Particle Reconstruction line combines vintage materials from the past with the creative style of the present. Each piece is formed from recycled clothing which has been deconstructed and refitted together to create a unique and original garment.

Available $72 at particleclothing.com.

SAN DIEGO: Vintage Costumes BY the POUND

Halloween Costumes By the Pound? Hmmmmn Sounds entreating doesn't it. Well it should be because not only do we have tons of vintage clothing that can be used as great costumes, but we have got a bunch of great costume ideas as well.

FACTORY VINTAGE is opening their Vintage Warehouse to the public ONE DAY ONLY. Saturday October 11, 2008 between 11am - 6pm

All you have to do is decide what you want to be, then put together your outfit by sifting through our huge selection of authentic vintage clothing. Not only will your costume be 100% Recycled, but you will have a blast putting it together. Once you find what you need, throw it on a scale, pay up, and off you go.

Having Trouble What to be this Halloween How about going as:

Classics:

• Army Guy
• Army Girl
• 70's Roller Girl
• Hula
  Girl
• Mail Man
• Nurse
• Mechanic
• Police Man
• Park
  Ranger
• Milk Man
• Sailor
• Pirate
• 70's Pimp
• 80's
  Dude
• Wench
• Maid
• Old Dude
• Fire Fighter
• Party
  Animal

TV or Movie:

• Beatrice from Kill Bill
• Dwight
  & Angela From The Office
• Survival Player from Show
• Lieutenant
  Dangel Reno 911
• Colombo
• Obama
• Barbarella

If these don't work come by Saturday, we have many more ideas.

Come on down,
and BRING A FRIEND

Factory Vintage 4120 Napier RD San Diego, CA

http://factoryvintage.com

http://www.myspace.com/thevintagefactory

Solar Power Neck Tie

This could be the 2008 sartorial equivalent of that 1980s classic, the Piano Tie, but it is certainly a lot more useful. Researchers at Iowa State University have glued solar panels using Photovoltaic thin film, onto the symbol of male corporate oppression and hooked it up to a Nokia phone, which sits in a handy pocket at the back of the tie.

Photovoltaic thin film has about the same thickness as paper, and properties similar to camera film. The film can be scratched, punctured, or rolled to a three inch diameter without impairing function. The researchers’ real challenge was to integrate it into an aesthetically pleasing garment. First, the team used a shiny cotton sateen to mimic the reflectiveness of the solar panels. Then they used digitally printed designs to create a pattern that looks, well, almost normal – for a tie.

The inventors even had the decency to laser-print a matching pattern between the panels to stop it looking like a patchwork quilt. The result? Success. The tie outputs 3.6 volts in full sun, enough to keep the Nokia battery topped up. And because the phone isn't actually running off the tie's power, even lesser light sources will allow some trickle-charging.

info via Wired & Inhabitat

Recycled Tents In Time for Camping Season

So far we have seen bags, sleeping bags, footwear, apparel, etc, made with recycled content, but so far no-one has yet stepped up to the plate and served us with a tent made from recycled material. Until now, that is. Backpacker Magazine correspondent, Kelly Bastone, trawling the aisles of the Outdoor Retailer Show reports for that mag’s blog that two such Tents are in development.

Big Agnes, who are doing interesting things with recycled content sleeping bags, have a two and three person tent coming in 2009. The Salt Creek is said to use recycled polyester floor, inner, mesh and flysheet. According to the reports even the zippers have recycled content zip tape.

Information brought to you by Treehugger

Photos provided by Treehugger

Go Green Go Shopping

There's no better way to go green than to go shopping! San Diego Living Green Scene reporter Erin Mikael did a piece this week on how to create your own signature style with recycled clothes. The segment was shot live at San Deigo's own Factory Vintage. This store takes a whole new look at Green design and products starting from the ground up.>

Watch Video

Re-claimed Scrapwood Furniture

We are always looking for innovative, eco-friendly design and use of materials at Fashion & Recycling. These pieces created from scrapwood by Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek are great examples of inspired design from recycled, re-purposed or waste materials.

One of our favorite pieces from this designer is The Imperfectionist. known for his scrap wood furniture, Eek has made a name for himself by being ecologically responsible and highlighting beauty of material and craftmanship...

Thrift Store Clocks

More rad clock ideas made from just about anything cool you can find. Reasonable price as well from $20- $25 bucks. Available at Etsy

Textile Recycling Initiative in New Delhi

Turning one person’s waste into another person’s resource isn't new news to us at Fashion & Recycling. However this is still only on a small scale of what could be done to make a global difference. What if we started to re-use the clothing for necessities other than clothing. What if we used them to make blankets or bags for under privileged countries. Well that is exactly what the magnificent GOONJ project is doing. They are setting a truly sustainable mindset in the heart of the Indian capital New Delhi. The GOONJ project has become well established as a distribution network able to reach the poorest areas of India.

We found this information on Inhabitat and thought that it was worth bringing to your attention.

"Founded in 1998 by Ashoka Fellow Anshu Gupta, the GOONJ project collects unused clothing from all over India to then recycle the materials to provide clothes, sanitary and many other basic amenities to people living in poorer communities across the country.


The 300+ volunteers and mass participation of housewives, professionals, schools, colleges, corporates, exporters, hotels and hospitals behind the recycling and distribution center help to send out over 20,000 kgs of recycled waste materials every single month! A vast network of more than 100 grassroots agencies is also helping GOONJ reach parts of 20 states of India.

Recently declared Indian NGO of the Year, GOONJ has also won the prestigious Development Market place award from the World Bank on making a sanitary napkin out of waste cloth. The Global Oneness Project recently published a short documentary film about the GOONJ project, which wonderfully captures the essence of this inspirational and highly sustainable initiative."

Click Here to read the original post on Inhabitat
Images courtesy of GOONJ

Shop Notes: 8 Ways To Increase Sales

Work with each employee on sales and promote good sellers.

Learn about your product and the story behind each piece or style. Share information with fellow workers and customers.

Merchandise the store in a new format each week. It will give your employees an opportunity to get involved, as well as show new looks and merchandise to your returning clientele.

Constantly turn product over. It is OK to put pieces on sale at cost in order to get new product in.

Work with each employee on sales and promote good sales people.

Start having weekly SALE'S with events attached to them. Like a T-shirt sale during an instore concert

Start giving away discounted product or promote with local hair stylists or bar tenders aka "connectors", anyone who makes a living talking while they work. Hook them up and they will most likely hook you up with allot of business.

Aviator Sunglasses Lamp Shade

"Iconic and original, inspired by the stars who rarely shun their shades in public, the Celebrity lamp has found a new use for aviator glasses, eyes and light switching their usual sides."

"The lamp shade is made of 40 pairs of mirrored aviator glasses and rests on a shiny, linear stand, featuring an amusing temple light switch.

When it is turned off, the lamp becomes an amazing silver sculpture, reflecting 80 times its surroundings. Switched on, the lenses become translucent and cast a kaleidoscope of oval shadows on the surrounding walls for a unique sophisticated ambiance."

Made in Australia Available at Deep Mad Living

Skateboard Deck Shoes

Used skateboard decks continue to pile up due to the production of over 100,000 decks per month in the United States alone. Reply explores this material waste stream as a resource for women's shoes. By utilizing the overall shape and material properties found within the deck, the women's shoe takes on an interesting aesthetic quality. This project is also a reapplication of waste skateboard decks in an unexpected way. By taking a movement-based leisure product mainly utilized by males, a creative method of reuse is reapplied to a movement-based market for Eco-conscious women.

see more of Kris’s conceptual design projects @ krislovett.com

Frames From Recycled Tin

Artists Margaret Taylor and Simone Wilson make a variety of folk art and home furnishings from reclaimed and re-constructed materials which are sold through Miss Taylor’s Atlanta-based company, dryads dancing.
The one-of-a-kind, pastel quilted tin frame pictured is made from antique ceiling tin, house molding and beaded board.
available in pink, blue, or green and various sizes up to 16×20″ priced ranging from $38 to $250 @ dryadsdancing.com

Time to Sit on the Floor

Does your back ever begin to crinch after spending time on the computer? Check out these low-rider, funky, eco-friendly rockers that find your own, unique balance point. These are all constructed of FSC-certified wood, natural latex, organic cotton and steel screws, with hemp twine used in assembly and a recycled paper instruction manual.

The Bean Rocker Series is a family of bean-inspired, body conscious, low rocking seats designed with balanced posture and ease of breathing in mind.

It just might be time to get out of your high-chair and onto the floor.

comes in 4 sizes in green, chocolate or black prices range from $150 to $250. Find them at koend.com

From the Ground Up :: Part 1

These notes are the beginning stages on how to take an average building and turn it into a Sustainable Vintage Clothing store.

First off you have to locate a building that will cater to the purpose. It is much easier on the budget if you can find a building that has little or no finish out needed. As far as major electrical and plumbing go. In this case we found a building that needed a little work, but not so much that we would have to take out loans just to turn on the electricity. We were choosing between two buildings we found that both had their pros and cons. One building was taking over a year lease in a high foot traffic shopping district in an artist neighborhood. The other building was quite a bit larger with a great rental rate next to the beach communities. We opted for the second location with the better rate. Because the building had sat vacant for the past few months we decided to negotiate early off in the lease to have the land lord bring the building up to code with Certificate of Occupancy. In order to get the land Lord to go along with this we agreed to pay a slightly higher rent to help subsidize the land lords expense. We also wholesale vintage clothing as well, so we needed a slightly larger location in order to have space to work in. We opted for a location outside the shopping districts but with with easy access from all directions, and good visibility. This first picture is what the building we found in Mission Bay San Diego looked like when we found it.

Once we got everything worked out with the lease we gave the land lord a little time to finish up what was left of the plumbing and electrical while we started collecting and processing our merchandise, and getting the inside ready.We have learned in the past that it is important to start collecting your product as soon as possible. When you get you shop ready you don't want to have to wait on a vendor to get your order ready last minute. You don't have to go rummaging through estate sales and border towns either. You can use a intermediate supplier like Dust Factory Vintage to locate and supply all your product, but you will still need time. You should start collection and washing you product a month or two before you plan on opening the doors.

After the walls were finished we started picking out the color samples,
and then began painting. (not our green)

 

 

 

A Pretty N.E.E.T. Magazine

N.E.E.T. Magazine captures the essence of recycled fashion and jewelry as a new form of art. They put eco-garage hipster style artists on the map with their creative and intuitive sense for trash can aristocracy.

Recycled Bath Tub Lounge Seat

After cruising around some other blogs I found this post on Alternative Consumer that was unique and cool. Someone had a vision and it begat Max the bath tub chaise. U.K. based Reestore dubs this a twist on the sofa briefly featured in breakfast at Tiffany’s. Created from a vintage cast iron bath and upholstered in fabric of your choice.

Repurposed as a single seater sloucher or a cozy sofa for two.

allow 4-6 weeks for delivery

Purchase Bulk Vintage Clothing on eBay

How about buying bulk vintage clothing for your shop or friends through eBay? Well now you can. Dust Factory vintage just started listing some of their world class DFV12pcks on eBay Auctions.

These DFV12 Packs are

Great for the Ebay Seller looking for new product to increase revenue.

Great for the Individual seeking out a new eco-friendly t-shirt collection for self or friends.

Great for an Event Planner looking to do a sustainable Event t-shirt

Great for the Band looking to do something new with merchandise.

Great for the Boutique looking for a new supplier.

Great for the Store/Business looking for a new shop tee.

As if that is not enough you can now get whatever you purchased form them screen
printed with your shop, band or party logo through their s(eco)nd print service.

check out http://dustfactoryvintage.com for more information.

 

Designs You Can Play With

 

The folks over at Particle Reconstruction have come up with another way of reconstructing old ideas to re-introduce into today's urban market. This time they strayed away from fabrics and clothing and tried out their skills on old vintage toys and accessories. PLASTIC MILITIA is a collection of Designs You Can Play With.

Each design is original and handcrafted using recycled objects. Also available Dice Earrings & Domino Earrings, for a quick game of Craps or Bones at your next conventions break.

Available for $8 at http://counterculturestore.com

Recycled Cassette Coin Purse

In an age of mp3s, DVDs, and CD-RWs, you may wonder “where have all the cassette tapes gone?” Following the reuse-and-recycle design trend, these clever little coin purses pose one solution, turning old tapes into usable vessels for all your stray pennies. Hand-made and one-of-a-kind, the cassette tapes are available from Marcella Foschi, Italy.
Considering most change purses cost only a few bucks, these are still a bit pricey, but what a great idea.


$39 on Design Boom.

Recycled Swimsuits

Aaron Chang jumps head first into eco-fashion with recycled swim suites. Who is Aarong Chang and how did he get involved in developing womens swim wear? Well-known in the photography world, his work has appeared on over 100 covers, on coffee table books, on countless ads for companies like, Nike, Yamaha, Polaris and Levis, not to mention a number of photos in Surfer and Surfing magazine. As an avid and legendary surfer, nature has always been in the forefront of his mind and he had a desire to incorporate his personal values with his professional work.

Thus, a great concept was formed to merge photography with fashion with swimwear. While the first few suits were not eco-friendly, this spring Aaron Chang will debut two new swimsuit lines that are made from 100% recycled plastic soda bottles. The response has already been so positive that Aaron Chang plans to make all summer swimsuit lines from 100% recycled plastic and eco-friendly.

The swimwear incorporates the direct photographs or small pieces from the photographs are used to design a logo that is used on the swim wear. Themes on the swimsuits incorporate elements of the natural world, such as waves, sunsets, flowers, elephants and indigenous designs from Panama. All swimsuits use bright colors, such as hot pints, greens, reds. The swimsuits are reversible, thus allowing for two suits for the price of one; A great concept.

Currently all cover-ups (shorts, tops and dress covers) are made from 100% organic cotton. Detailing on the clothes and suits is made from wooden beads, thus no plastic parts on the clothing or suits.

But why stop with the swimsuits or the cover-ups – Aaron Chang has made sure that all items related to the clothing are also environmental. Marketing materials and papers are all recycled and certified by the Rain forest Alliance to not come from virgin rain forest trees. Catalogs, hangtags and press kits are all made from recycled paper.

Aaron Chang

Part Vintage Part Innovative

Particle Reconstruction out of San Diego California, is always coming out with new ways of reconstructing old clothing. This piece called the Blues, combines and old recycled Vintage T-shirt and a recycled plaid western shirt for a one of a kind creation. To minimize their waste they take the leftover scraps to create another piece called their House.

Particle Reconstruction line combines vintage materials from the past with the creative style of the present. Each piece is formed from recycled clothing which has been deconstructed and refitted together to create a unique and original garment. Every article is cut from a standardized pattern, while simultaneously allowing natural style and wear variation through fabrication, further ensuring that each piece is a one of a kind.

You can find the Particle Blues and other Particle Pieces at Counter Culture Store

Recycled Solar-Power Bag

Here is product that uses both re-usable bags and solar-power. We found a post on on Alternative Consumer and though that it was so cool that we would post it also. This solar beach bag from Reware Solarsistem let’s you plug-in and charge small electronic devices while transporting all your essential suntan products and snacks to the beach or lakeside.

Some features:

• charges a wide variety of small electronic from cell phones to mp3 players
• heavy duty cotton webbing handles
• large roomy inside pocket
• gadget pocket for holding your phone or camera
• natural cotton “duck canvas” frame
• removable interior bottom support
• rugged Cordura® nylon cover for a water-resistant bottom
• each Juice Bag comes with a universal CLA/Car charger female socket

The Reware SolarSistem allows you to remove your solar panel for use separately from the bag, or to allow you to clean your tote.

So be the envy of all your greenish friends and techno geeks with the ultimate in re-usable bag utility.

on sale now for $199.99 @ the http://www.rewarestore.com/product/beachtote.html

The Safe Bedside Table/Beater

File this one under "When weird stuff happen to good ideas." The "Safe Bedside Table" goes from bedside table to home intruder protection system in two quick steps, so you can make that would-be burglar sorry they tried to invade your space by just rolling out of bed. If you ever have been woken up in the middle of the night by an intruder, the first thing you look for is a weapon. Now instead of looking for a gun, or bat, now you can arming yourself with your night stand. I think most transforming furniture is a good idea -- stuff that performs multiple functions with minimal materials makes me smile -- but this might only be useful to the more paranoid light sleepers among us. In that case we are all thankful that its not a gun they are reaching for. . Available at James McAdams

Teva Branches Into Recycled Shoes

Teva is branching out in a green way with a new style of recycled shoes. Using post-consumer PET canvas (which makes up the lining) and post-consumer recycled rubber (which makes up the sole) they’ve come up with a cool shoe for today’s sustainable shopper. The uppers are suede and they come in dark brown or sandstone. $74.95 at Amazon

This pair of Tevas has a lining made out of recycled soda bottles, while that big rubber outsole is from recycled rubber. They also come in an Olive color. $69.95 at Amazon

Not Just A Load

When slapped with an order to clean up the poop of 12,000 dairy cows, the Hefer Valley Cooperative Society built a manure-driven power station to solve their problems. The first of its kind in Israel, the plant was inaugurated this week and is expected to process 600 tons of manure a day and generate 2-2.4 megawatts per hour (MW/h) within the year. At present the plant is operating at about half its capacity, and most of the energy is feeding back to the national grid.

The project is a joint effort between Tambour Hefer Ecology Ltd and Granite Hacarmel Investments Ltd. Granite Hacarmel CEO Amiaz Sagis said, "This is unquestionably an important milestone. This facility fits in with Granite Hacarmel's strategy to invest in infrastructures and ecology. The company is also investing resources to developalternative energy, water treatment, and desalination.” While it wasn’t made cheap – the new plant located in Hadera cost about $10 million to build, which included a $2 million grant from Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture to help improve Israel’s much-polluting dairy industry. First the manure is sterilized, then the solid and liquid waste are processed to produce methane, which drives
the generators. This Story was Originally Posted by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on Tree Hugger.

Vintage T-Shirts 101

"The t-shirt is a symbol of freedom, but also a rebellion to society". Rin Taken. Did you know that the t-shirt is as North American as apple pie and blue jeans.

It wasn't until after the fighter pilots in the South Pacific returned home from WW2, in the 50's, that it was finally acceptable to wear an undershirt as a t-shirt. The first Surf Board Shapers had no idea that screen printing their logo on a t-shirt would change North American fashion forever. In the 80's T-shirt branding evolved from a grass roots marketing tool, to a billion dollar industry. Before a sneaker logo could sell a t-shirt, it had to have a great print or be a billboard and say something only a t-shirt could get away with. From Novelty tee's to brand tees no one could resist the comfort of a cotton tee

The first thing to look for when searching for authenticity of the perfect vintage tee is the tag/label. Before the store brand sold a tee, it was the brand on the blank itself that sold it. Knowing what to look for will save a lot of time during the hunt. Different tags can tell you about the era you tee come from. Current day American Made t-shirt manufactures continuously try to match the one of a kind comfort and feel found only in a 80's Screen star t-shirt blank.

Rock concert tees tell others that not only did you support the art of rocking by purchasing the newest 8 track released by your Rock Mentor, but you attended these ground breaking rock services yourself. Beware these are not to be mistaken as current day overprinted reproductions sold to the squares at urban corporate mall stores; but a genuine rare black market concert tee. Only recognizable traits are in the original print, date, tag and quality of blank. Some concert T-shirts will sell for well over $1000 in the dealer trade. The authenticity and timeless prints set these apart.

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